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Board reviews Columbia High School curriculum guide, discusses master schedule and language offerings
Summary
Administrators presented limited curriculum changes for Columbia High School, recommended March master-schedule planning, and fielded board concerns about class sizes, science labs and the feasibility of adding sign language courses.
Administrators from Columbia High School presented a mostly incremental update to the 2026–27 curriculum selection guide and outlined timing for master-schedule work.
A presenter said the district did not make “a lot of wholesale changes” to the guide but removed some courses with low enrollment, clarified departmental pathways (art, math) and emphasized attractive electives as a means to increase student engagement. Counselors will begin meeting one-on-one with students to collect course requests; the presenters said they aim to build the master schedule beginning in March so teachers and students can plan for the next school year.
Board members asked when a decision to change the high-school day length or period count would need to be made. The presenters said master-schedule work in March would be the appropriate time to model an alternative (for example, shifting between seven- and eight-period days) and to assess impacts on elective offerings and class sizes.
Members raised concerns about science laboratory access and the potential for larger class sizes if the period structure is altered. A board member also asked whether American Sign Language had been considered as a modern language option; presenters said recruiting qualified language instructors is a significant challenge but that online/digital options had been tried for less-commonly taught languages.
No formal vote was required; the board thanked the presenters and encouraged continued planning and student surveying as counselors collect requests.
